Applied Ocean Science and Engineering

Applied Ocean Science & Engineering is a discipline that combines basic research on a wide range of oceanic processes with applied research and engineering design of systems for the exploration, measurement, mapping, prediction, and beneficial use of the oceans.

From theory to application

In the Joint Program, knowledge acquired in the classroom can be
immediately applied to seagoing research on oceanic processes and
engineering. For example, AOSE students:

Take courses on information theory and apply that theory to quantify the information content of whale sounds.

Attend
lectures on the control of dynamic systems while applying advanced
control concepts to the navigation and maneuvering of autonomous
underwater vehicles.

Take theoretical
courses on oceanic processes while participating in field programs
designed to quantify ocean variables that have never before been
measured.

Breadth of opportunity

The educational opportunities in AOSE in the Joint Program are
unparalleled in breadth and depth. Five MIT departments—Civil
Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Ocean
Engineering, and Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences—join the
WHOI department of Applied Ocean Physics & Engineering in the Joint
Program discipline of AOSE.

The diverse
faculty in these departments provide a wide range of course offerings
in several disciplines as well as a correspondingly wide range of
research opportunities for graduate students. For example, Joint
Program research on acoustics ranges from using sound for the
quantification of the smallest scales of oceanic salinity variations to
understanding the bewildering physics of sound transmission across the
Pacific. Research on physical-biological interactions ranges from
elucidating the mechanics of squid propulsion to understanding the
processes that lead to the harmful algal blooms ("red tides") that
affect human health. Research on signal processing ranges from
obtaining holographic images of marine microorganisms to developing
technologies for obtaining quantitative images of undersea
archaeological sites.

Looking forward

Finally, graduate education in AOSE in the Joint Program opens doors. Graduates of this program have pursued a variety of ocean-related careers in academia, industry, and government. In addition, because of the rigor and generality of the educational program and the intellectual training obtained from the research experience, graduates of this program have successfully pursued a variety of non-ocean-related careers.